Simeon's Journey

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

This is the story of a young man, who embarks on a journey where he meets all kinds of people.

Plot:

Follow Simeon, as he faces incredible happiness, and ultimate tragedy. Will he resist everything that comes his way, or will he end up a broken man?

What to expect:

A slow burn progression story where Simeon sets off to go on adventures throughout a fantasy world. There will be good times, bad times, friends, maybe even enemies. The fights will be semi-realistic (I'm trying).

Chapter lengths will be 1K-3K.

Release schedule:

New chapters come out in random bursts.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Dawn99

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 3
Views: 9,075

Chapters(43 total)

What readers say about Simeon's Journey

“I'm hooked! The story gets off to an incredibly strong start, and I've been invested in Simeon's journey since his emotional farewell in the first chapter. This novel does an excellent job of blending character-driven storytelling with exciting action and c…”
EnernaxRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I really enjoyed this story overall. The pacing felt good, especially at the start when we’re introduced to Simeon’s home life and his decision to set out as an adventurer. The emotional beats with his parents were handled nicely without being over the top,…”
smilodon88Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(6)

EnernaxRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm hooked! The story gets off to an incredibly strong start, and I've been invested in Simeon's journey since his emotional farewell in the first chapter. This novel does an excellent job of blending character-driven storytelling with exciting action and compelling world-building.
The story follows Simeon, a young man who leaves his small village to become an adventurer. His journey feels incredibly real and grounded. We see his early mistakes, like getting injured by goblins and running out of supplies, which makes his eventual growth feel earned.
His partners in adventure—the kind but cunning merchant Zdravko, the beastly and boisterous Todor, and the seasoned veteran Valentina—each bring a unique dynamic to the group. The interactions between these characters, especially Simeon's exasperation with Todor, are both entertaining and great for building the world. I love how the author is slowly revealing the world's lore, from mana gems to the legendary blacksmiths of Ognishte, without it feeling forced.
The pacing is excellent, moving quickly from Simeon's emotional farewell to high-stakes action and moments of quiet reflection. It's a great balance that keeps you turning the pages.
Overall, this is a very promising start to what I´m sure will be an epic journey.
smilodon88Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really enjoyed this story overall. The pacing felt good, especially at the start when we’re introduced to Simeon’s home life and his decision to set out as an adventurer. The emotional beats with his parents were handled nicely without being over the top, and it gave me a good sense of the stakes before he even left the village. The world-building is solid too — the little details about the blacksmith, the forest, and the towns made the setting feel alive without drowning me in info dumps.
I liked the action scenes, especially the goblin fight and the dire wolf encounters. They were easy to follow and tense without feeling like the characters had invincible plot armor. Todor was a fun addition — a bit chaotic, but it made for a good contrast with Simeon’s more careful personality. The potion subplot was interesting too, hinting at some possible longer-term consequences or world rules.
That said, I think some sections could have been trimmed a little. A few travel segments felt a bit drawn out, and sometimes the dialogue repeated the same ideas (like Todor’s steak obsession or reminders about escort quests) which slowed the momentum. I also would’ve liked a bit more inner reflection from Simeon about his bigger goals — we get hints of it, but it’s overshadowed by the immediate events.
Still, it’s a strong opening to a journey. The mix of heartfelt moments, danger, and light humor makes it worth the read. I’m definitely curious to see where Simeon’s travels take him next.
AroraftRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Simeon’s Journey starts with raw emotion and personal stakes that grab you immediately. In Chapter 1 (“18”), we meet Simeon, still reeling from trauma at 18, and the narrative does a solid job planting his emotional core.
Chapter 2 (“Unprepared”) leans into realism—Simeon isn’t an overpowered hero; he’s vulnerable, injured, and scrambling to survive. That raw honesty helps root your sympathy.
By Chapter 3 (“Arrival in Parvograd”), the trek across plains hits its stride. Simeon’s hunger, thirst, and pain feel tactile as he pushes himself toward his goal . His encounter with Zdravko, the unexpected benefactor, is nicely paced and helps contrast sincerity with hardship.
Chapter 4 (“Meeting”) sets up budding relationships well—even if the scene is quiet, you feel its importance for what's to come. Chapters 5–6, “First Quest” and “Partying Up,” transition the story into action and introduce group dynamics that feel organic—Todor’s tactic and their camaraderie offer a believable contrast to Simeon’s isolation .
Chapter 7 (“Gathering Herbs”) offers introspection and recovery, setting the tone for deeper character building. Chapter 8 (“To Privet Day 1”) ends the arc with the promise of new challenges ahead.
The writing stays grounded in emotional realism and world detail without feeling weighed down. Some pacing lags in quieter parts, but otherwise this is a compelling, character-first fantasy adventure with strong potential.
OneDropRainRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Simeon's Journey doesn't lie to its readers, especially not in the title. It is exactly what it claims to be: a journey, Simeon’s journey.
He begins as a blacksmith’s apprentice in a remote village and travels through a forest to a larger town, where he’s forced to take on quests. Not just to become a better adventurer, but also to earn money for basic needs like food, lodging, and gear.
The concept is simple, but it explores problems rarely addressed in similar stories, like potion dosing and even overdosing. If something gives you a boost in strength or speed but comes with harsh side effects, would you take it? If so, how many times? Would you stop? These are the questions Simeon and his friend Todor will eventually face, as hinted by the author.
Then there’s the issue of walking. Yes, walking. Adventurers must travel between points of interest, which is not only exhausting but usually glossed over. The fact that the story acknowledges this earns it points for realism and novelty.
The story flows like a video game, and I believe that’s intentional. The character faces increasingly tougher challenges on his decidedly non-merry adventures, and he takes real wounds along the way. However, those wounds are often quickly healed with potions, which raises a concern: what are the actual stakes? Are these characters in real danger, or is there always a fix around the corner? I think it would help to address this early on, so readers know what kind of world they're stepping into. Can their favorite character die, or are they protected by plot armor?
So far, the characters—Simeon, Todor, Valentina—are a bit thin. They haven’t shown much personality yet, and that’s currently the story’s weakest point. Hopefully, they’ll develop into something more distinctive and memorable as the story progresses.
The structure follows a clear stylistic vision, with short chapters broken into smaller segments. These are easy to digest and feel like satisfying bites of reader-energy bars.
No
Makkis_LiteralRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
What stands out most in this story is its grounded approach to adventure. The opening stretches linger on the small, human moments—family breakfasts, awkward silences, heartfelt farewells—that make the leap into the unknown feel both weighty and believable. The details are tactile and lived-in, whether it’s the heft of a newly forged breastplate or the scent of a simple meal. When the protagonist finally steps onto the road, the hardships of travel—exhaustion, hunger, injury—carry as much dramatic force as the encounters with goblins or wolves. This gives the world a sense of texture and consequence, where survival depends on judgment and persistence more than effortless heroics.
The character work is equally strong. There’s sincerity in how the protagonist is portrayed: eager, skilled in some areas, untested in others. Side characters add variety and life to the narrative, from the dry humor of the blacksmith to the open-handed generosity of a traveling merchant, to the chaotic energy of a new companion whose humor and bravado both unsettle and entertain. These relationships keep the story from ever feeling like a solitary march, instead showing how every step forward is shaped by the people met along the way.
Where the writing falters is in pacing and restraint. Inner monologues often spell out emotions the scene already conveys, which slows the momentum and occasionally robs tense moments of their natural urgency. There’s also a tendency for abrupt tonal shifts—grisly violence followed by lighthearted banter—that can feel more jarring than intentional. Even small details, like inconsistent handling of money and supplies, sometimes distract from the otherwise grounded tone. These weaknesses don’t sink the narrative, but they do blur its sharpest edges. With a lighter touch in exposition and smoother transitions between moods, the story’s strongest qualities—the emotional honesty, the tactile realism, the human heart—would shine even brighter.
AslansGirl13Royal Road
★★★★ 3.5
The good:
Simeon is a young man just coming of age and setting out to find his place in the world. He’s a bit naive but uses every opportunity to learn and grow.
The characters in the story are very wholesome and kind, taking Simeon under their wings to teach and protect him.
The setting has some interesting elements, such as the ability of the animals to ingest certain stones to make them invincible for a time. And the same stones make weapons more powerful.
The story itself is an adventure story along the lines of Swiss Family Robinson. The characters don’t fight amongst themselves. They display true teamwork to meet every challenge and learn from each encounter. In this story, there are elements of found family as the older adventurers “adopt” Simeon and help him mature.
To improve:
The story meanders a little since there’s no positive goal except “adventures,” but I think that’s because of the format chosen.
There are places that could use some editing.
My biggest issue with the story is the use of steroids. Simeon’s companions use “buffing potions” to make them faster and stronger to defeat their foes. This behavior seems to be encouraged in the narrative.
I have only read to chapter 9, so I’m not sure what the author’s intent is with regard to the steroid use. There are points at which it is shown to be problematic.
At one point, the MC Simeon warns his partner that the potions are dangerous. Also, we see Simeon take too large a dose of one and he has deleterious effects.
So it’s possible the author plans to make a statement about the dangers of such drugs. If so, I applaud the author for their effort.
Good luck to both the author and Simeon as they continue their journeys!